BACKGROUND:
Exposure to traumatic events, including traumatic childbirth, may substantially develop acute stress disorder (ASD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Visuospatial cognitive tasks (e.g. Tetris) can target the underlying mechanisms of traumatic memory consolidation and reconsolidation.

OBJECTIVES:
This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of visuospatial cognitive tasks in preventing or reducing ASD/PTSD symptoms following exposure to traumatic events, including traumatic childbirth.

METHODS:
Multiple electronic databases were systematically searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) published before October 2024. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane tool. Effect sizes were calculated with 95% confidence intervals using STATA software. Clinical, methodological, and statistical heterogeneities were explored using forest plots and Q-square, Tau-square, and I-square statistics. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation framework was applied to determine the certainty of evidence.

RESULTS:
A total of 35 studies (34 RCTs and one quasi-RCT) were identified, all of which presented a high risk of bias. Two of these RCTs specifically focused on traumatic childbirth. Visuospatial cognitive tasks demonstrated small-to-moderate effects in reducing ASD/PTSD symptoms. Interestingly, interventions applied later (after one month post-trauma) appeared more effective in symptom reduction compared to those applied earlier (within one month post-trauma). Effects of these tasks on individual symptom clusters (e.g. intrusions, avoidance, arousal, and negative mood/cognition) varied considerably upon the trauma type, intervention timing, and assessment methods. The impact of heterogeneity on effect estimates remained unclear, resulting in the certainty of evidence rated as ‘low’ or ‘very low’.

CONCLUSIONS:
Although preliminary findings suggest that visuospatial cognitive tasks may help reduce ASD/PTSD symptoms, methodological limitations in the included studies prevent definitive conclusions.

KEY MESSAGE:
While visuospatial cognitive tasks show reducing ASD/PTSD symptoms, including those from traumatic childbirth, high-quality RCTs are needed to confirm their effectiveness and determine optimal intervention strategies. Poster session 4 (Group B)